What is YouTube? YouTube is a website and app for watching and posting videos online. When it was first launched, many years ago, it was most known as a place to watch videos uploaded by its users. Now it includes all of those videos plus those from companies, professionals, and anyone else with a video to share. Videos include DIY, sports, commentary, humor, tricks/talents, hobbies, reviews, event footage, TV show clips, movie scenes, music videos, promos, and much, much more! Videos on YouTube are both privately made and commercially made.
YouTube is one of the most popular websites/apps due to the variety of content that is both entertaining and helpful. It is also one of the few websites/apps that you can "surf" like you channel surf on your TV. Each video you watch leads to other videos like it (or that YouTube thinks you might like).
TCC has a YouTube "channel" where we've posted tutorial videos, feature explanation videos, and business testimonial videos. Just type "tri county communications cooperative" in the search bar or go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3k6Wy5ArS5Wpkah-G5WcnQ
YouTube generally works on any device capable of connecting to the Internet and displaying video, including computers, tablets, smartphones, and smart TVs. The only exceptions may be with devices that are too old or slow to process video adequately. If using a computer, you would use YouTube's website (https://www.youtube.com) and if you use YouTube on a mobile device or streaming device, you would use the YouTube app. Just search your app store for YouTube.
When you first open YouTube, you will see a number of suggested videos in different categories. Once you start watching videos, these suggested videos will change from time to time. Signing in to YouTube will allow you to better customize video topics shown on the home screen as well as use features like Subscriptions, Library, History, Your Videos, and Watch Later. (see below).
There is a search function, denoted by the magnifying glass, that you can use to type what you are looking for. Type in keywords of what you want to find. Don't be afraid to get creative and specific by using keywords, names, titles, years, seasons, etc. This may help you find exactly what you are looking for.
Once you get your search results, scroll down the screen until you find a video you want to watch and click on its title. While the video is playing, you can control the volume, pause, fast forward and rewind, change the video screen size, add closed captions and more.
There are a number of fun and helpful features that are available if you log in to YouTube using a Gmail address. Just click the circle avatar in the upper right corner and log in. Once logged in, you can customize your YouTube experience, interact with those posting videos and even begin posting your own videos!
As you can see by the comment above, not all comments are particularly "congratulatory" -- many may be sarcastic or negative. Keep in mind what you post is visible to others --- and able to be commented on by others as well!
Things you can do when logged in:
- Like or dislike a video (click/tap the thumb up or the thumb down)
- Post a comment (click/tap "Add a public comment" and start typing!)
- Subscribe to the YouTube channel (click/tap the Subscribe button)
- Get notifications when a new video is posted (click/tap the little bell next to subscribe)
- Share a video to E-Mail, Facebook, or other social channels (click/tap the Share link)
- Save a video to your "favorites" (click/tap the Save link)
If you are not interested in YouTube's suggested videos, put your mouse to the right of the title and click "three dots" and select "Not Interested" and you won't see that particular video again on your Home screen. Please know that does not work perfectly -- while you may not be shown the exact same video again, you could be shown other similar videos or ads that fall into the same category.
Every person or organization who uploads a video to YouTube is given a "channel". Clicking their name under their video (see above) will take you to their channel where you will find their other videos. Also, as you start watching videos, YouTube will automatically list categories near the top of the screen that match what you've been watching so you can easily find similar videos by clicking the category. When you click on the person who posted the video to view their personal "channel", you can also subscribe to them which means your YouTube screen will show when they post new videos. And if you go a step further and click the "notifications" bell, you'll get an email when they post new videos. This is YouTube's way of making sure you are finding and following those who create the content you like.
If you have any questions about YouTube, contact Ben at TCC -or- just go to youtube.com and type your question in the search box -- maybe there's a video showing your solution!